The Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy based in Hong Kong indicated on January 25, that the date of Zhao Ziyang’s farewell ceremony was not settled yet as of 8 p.m. and the government will continue to discuss the details with Zhao’s family tonight.

Quoting Wang Yannan, Zhao Ziyang’s daughter, the Center stated that she was still reluctant to let her mother, Liang Boqi, know of her Zhao’s death. Her mother is currently sick, sometimes awake, sometimes unconscious, and moreover her mother is suffering from an eye disease.

The Center pointed out that although the CCP government would not handle Zhao’s funeral affairs with the grand specifications assigned to “the Party and national leader,” but rather under the pretext of “involving the secret of the Party and the state,” it admonished Zhao’s family not to disclose Zhao’s information to outsiders or to the media. For example, the location where Zhao’s remains were temporarily stored was listed as confidential.

The Center indicated that it learned from other sources that Zhao’s remains were being held in Babaoshan currently.

According to the Center, as of 8: 30 p.m., Jan. 25, none of the present or retired officials of CCP were notified to make preparations to attend Zhao’s farewell ceremony. An old cadre, who held the position of provincial secretary of the CCP since the 1960s, indicated that he would like to attend Zhao’s farewell ceremony. But until now, the Office of the CCP’s Central Committee has not sent out any notification to tell them what to do.

After the deaths of national leaders, the General Office will typically ask officials above a certain rank whether they know any retired officials who had close relationships with the deceased, and whether they would like to attend the farewell ceremony. After those individuals register, the central government will approve and decide the final visitation list.